January 3, 2016

I Am a Creature

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Series: Identity Crisis Scripture: Psalm 139:13–16

Identity Crisis
I Am a Creature
Psalm 139:13-16

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Two Vitally Important Understandings:

  • A Proper Understanding Of God
  • A Proper Understanding Of Ourselves

The Truest Thing About You Is What God Says About You!

Our identity In Christ is not something we Earn, it is something we Have - it is a gift of God’s grace

We will have to Grow into it, but it is ours if we are in Jesus Christ

Foundational Truth about My Identity: I was Intentionally Created by God

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

“then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” (Genesis 2:7)

“yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (1 Corinthians 8:6)

Implications of Being a Creature

1. I have a Purpose

“everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isaiah 43:7)

“You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,” (Psalm 8:6)

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” (Psalm 138:8)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

We were created to have a Personal Relationship with God and to Manage all of the rest of God’s creation! This makes us unique in all of God’s creation!

2. I am Dependent

“nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17:25)

  • My Life

“My times are in your hand;” (Psalm 31:15a)

“O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!” (Psalm 39:4)

  • My Plans

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” (Proverbs 27:1)

“Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'” (James 4:13–15)

  • My Abilities

“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:17–18)

“What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

  • My Salvation

“as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.” (Romans 3:10–11)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

3. I am Accountable

“You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.” (Psalm 119:4)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)

“And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.” (Revelation 20:13)

What Should Be My Response?

  1. Humility
  2. Gratitude
  3. Determination

Making It Personal

  • Have I truly understood that everything in my life including my salvation is a gift from God? Have I personally responded to God’s offer of salvation in Christ and Christ alone through repentance and faith?
  • Does my life exhibit a genuine humility? How might I grow in God-centered humility?
  • Does my life exhibit a genuine gratitude? How might I grow in God-honoring gratitude?
  • Does my life exhibit a fixed determination to fulfill God’s purposes for my life? Do I have as my central desire to please him in all that I do? How can I grow in this desire this year?

other sermons in this series

Feb 7

2016

I Am a Saint

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13–16 Series: Identity Crisis

Jan 31

2016

I Am a Citizen of Heaven

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Philippians 3:17–21 Series: Identity Crisis

Jan 24

2016

I Am a New Creation

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26–27 Series: Identity Crisis